Burma's economic relations with various countries
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Burma's economic relations with the region
Individual Documents
| Title: | | Asian Development Bank Interim Country Partnership Strategy: Myanmar, 2012-2014 REGIONAL COOPERATION AND INTEGRATION (SUMMARY) |
| Date of publication: | | September 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | Role of Regional Cooperation and Integration in Myanmar’s Development:
1. Myanmar is strategically located in Asia. Having the largest land area in mainland
Southeast Asia, it shares borders with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the north and
northeast, Lao PDR and Thailand on the east and southeast, and Bangladesh and India on the
west and northwest. It has a long coastline of around 2,800 km which provides access to sea
routes and deep-sea ports. It has the potential to serve as a land bridge between Southeast and
South Asia, and between Southeast Asia and the PRC. Regional cooperation and integration
(RCI), therefore, provides Myanmar with a great opportunity to secure benefits in terms of
access to regional and global markets, technology, and finance and management expertise. It
can also promote inflows of foreign direct investment which can enable Myanmar to link up with
regional and global supply networks. Besides expanding employment opportunities, RCI can
also help in addressing social and environmental concerns through cooperation with
neighboring countries...II. The GMS Program... III. Myanmar and the GMS Program...IV. GMS Economic Corridors ...V. Myanmar’s Participation in BIMSTEC... VI. Issues facing the GMS Program including Myanmar...VII. RCI Opportunities in Myanmar... |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (106K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs14/mya-interim-regional_cooperation.pdf |
| Date of entry/update: | | 28 September 2012 |
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| Title: | | Trade Trumps Human Rights |
| Date of publication: | | October 2008 |
| Description/subject: | | "Many countries have shown more interest in trading with Asean than in taking Burma's generals to task for trampling on citizens' basic rights...
The more pressing needs of economic growth in East Asia appear to be overriding the issue of pressuring the Burmese military junta to reform.
Economic giants China and India are on the verge of finalizing free trade agreements (FTAs) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), to which Burma belongs, while both Australia and New Zealand have just formed closer trade pacts with the bloc..." |
| Author/creator: | | William Boot |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 16, No. 10 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 14 November 2008 |
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Burma's economic relations with ASEAN
Individual Documents
| Title: | | Analysis on International Trade of CLM Countries |
| Date of publication: | | August 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | Abstract:
"Since their accession to AFTA, trade volumes of CLM countries have being grown rapidly while their trade patterns and directions have significantly changed. Recognizing the importance of international trade in CLM [Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar]economies, this study attempts to analyze the trade patterns of CLM countries based the gravity model. The empirical analysis is conducted to identify the determining factors of each country's bilateral trade flows and policy implications for promoting their trade. The results indicate that CLM's trade patterns are mainly affected by partner country's GDP, the difference between per capita GDPs of two countries, distance, common border, and presence in particular FTA. Their trade relations with East Asian countries mainly China, Japan and Korea have yet to be exploited to their full potential. These findings suggest that CLM countries needs to promote their bilateral trade with countries in close proximity and having large economic size and high consumers' purchasing power through accelerating their trade liberalization efforts in FTAs in progress."..... Keywords: CLM countries, ASEAN, East Asia, FTA, Bilateral trade |
| Author/creator: | | Nu Nu Lwin |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Institute of Developing Economies (IDE), JETRO |
| Format/size: | | pdf (589K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 04 January 2010 |
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| Title: | | Foreign Direct Investment Relations between Myanmar and ASEAN |
| Date of publication: | | April 2008 |
| Description/subject: | | Abstract:
Myanmar highly appreciates foreign direct investment (FDI) as a key solution
reducing the development gap with leading ASEAN countries. Accordingly, it is
welcomed by the government. Myanmar's Foreign Investment Law was enacted in
1988 soon after the adoption of a market-oriented economic system to boost the flow
of FDI into the country. Foreign investors positively responded to these measures in
the early years and FDI inflow into Myanmar gradually increased during the period
from 1989 to 1996. However, after 1997, FDI inflow was dramatically reduced and
markedly declined until 2004. In 2005, FDI inflow increased at an unprecedented
rate and reached the highest level in the country's history. However, this growth was
not sustainable in the subsequent years, as it declined again and turned stagnant at
the previous level.
In terms of source regions, ASEAN is a major investor in Myanmar, which investment is
significantly exceeds the combined investment of other regions of the world. Among top
ten countries, Thailand's investment alone is significantly more than
combined total investments of the other nine countries. Next to Thailand in
terms of investments in Myanmar are Singapore and Malaysia among ASEAN, at
second and third places, respectively. The combined total FDI inflows into the power
and oil and gas sector represent about 65 percent of the total investment.
There are many opportunities for foreign investment in other sectors, which are not, yet
exploited. ASEAN countries will certainly be source countries of Myanmar FDI in the
future, and Myanmar should expand to other Asian countries like Japan, India, China,
Korea, and Hong Kong where its FDI portfolio is concerned. To effectively attract FDI
into the country, Myanmar needs to minimize the effect of policy while opening and
encouraging other potential sectors of FDI to foreign investors in ASEAN and Asian
countries....
Keywords: foreign direct investment (FDI), Myanmar, ASEAN, Myanmar
Investment Commission (MIC)...
JEL classification: F21, L10, O11 |
| Author/creator: | | Thandar Khine |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | IDE DISCUSSION PAPER No. 149 |
| Format/size: | | pdf (580K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 30 December 2008 |
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Burma's economic relations with Denmark
Individual Documents
| Title: | | Special Economic Measures (Burma) Regulations, SOR/2007-285 |
| Date of publication: | | 13 December 2007 |
| Description/subject: | | INTERPRETATION [1.]
-LIST [2.]
2.Designated person
-PROHIBITIONS [3. - 13.]
3.Export
4.Import
5.Assets Freeze
6.Technical data
7.(1)Investment — property in Burma held by or on behalf of Burma or national of Burma not ordinarily resident in Canada
7.(2)Investment — property held by or on behalf of a person in Burma
7.(3)Property
8.Financial services
9.Docking — ship registered in Burma
10.Docking — ship registered under an Act of Parliament
11.Landing in Canada
12.Landing in Burma
13.Prohibition
-DUTY TO DETERMINE [14.]
14.Determination
-DISCLOSURE [15.]
15.(1)Report
15.(2)Immunity
-APPLICATION TO NO LONGER BE A DESIGNATED PERSON [16.]
16.(1)Petition
16.(2)Decision
16.(3)Presumption
16.(4)Notice
16.(5)New application
-APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE [17.]
17.(1)Mistaken identity
17.(2)Certificate — time frame
-EXCLUSIONS [18. - 19.]
18.Import and export
19.Financial services
-APPLICATION PRIOR TO PUBLICATION [20.]
20.Application
-COMING INTO FORCE [21.]
21.Registration
SCHEDULE |
| Language: | | English, Francais/ Français |
| Source/publisher: | | Canadian Legal Information Institute |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.canlii.org/fr/ca/legis/regl/dors-2007-285/derniere/dors-2007-285.html (Français)
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/archives/p2/2007/2007-12-26/html/sor-dors285-eng.html#tphp |
| Date of entry/update: | | 13 October 2010 |
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Burma's economic relations with Germany
Individual Documents
| Title: | | Außenhandel zwischen Burma und Deutschland im Steigflug |
| Date of publication: | | 08 April 2001 |
| Description/subject: | | Obwohl Wirtschaftssanktionen als wichtiges politisches
Druckmittel angesehen werden und das Auswärtige Amt seine
Wirtschaftsbeziehungen auf ein Minimum reduziert, befindet sich der
Außenhandel zwischen Burma und Deutschland im Aufschwung. Eine kurze Analyse
der Beziehungen zwischen der Bundesrepublik und Deutschland, aber auch
Nordrhein Westfalens und Burmas in den Jahren 1990 bis 1999.
On foreign trade Germany-Burma: (statistics on import and export) |
| Author/creator: | | Susanne Gotthart |
| Language: | | Deutsch, German |
| Source/publisher: | | Asienhaus, Essen |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 June 2003 |
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Burma's economic relations with India
Individual Documents
| Title: | | Prostration and Diplomacy |
| Date of publication: | | August 2010 |
| Description/subject: | | Junta chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe made a pilgrimage to India in search of bilateral accords, development aid, legitimacy and atonement. He got at least some of what he was after...
"Burmese junta chief Snr-Gen Than Shwe’s five-day visit to India began with a pilgrimage to one of Buddhism’s most sacred shrines and ended with the signing of a wide range of agreements on finance, technology, arms and border issues....
As a result of these meetings, a series of bilateral treaties, memorandums of understanding and other agreements were signed..." |
| Author/creator: | | Zarni Mann |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 18, No. 8 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 31 August 2010 |
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| Title: | | India-Burma relations gaining momentum of its own |
| Date of publication: | | 04 September 2008 |
| Description/subject: | | The Indo-Burmese relationship is acquiring a positive momentum of its own despite western rights groups' criticism of Myanmar 's handling of pro-democracy demonstrations some six months back. India had rolled out red-carpet for Burmese military junta’s top leadership who were on a five day visit to India that began from April 4, 2008. |
| Author/creator: | | Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Global Politician |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 September 2010 |
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| Title: | | Why India? |
| Date of publication: | | 2007 |
| Description/subject: | | Why is India responsible for continued dictatorship, prolong suffering and the repeated bloodshed in Burma!
Why India: 1.India: Military Aid to Burma Fuels Abuses... 2.India unveils business proposals with Myanmar... 3.Business Week: India's Role in Burma's Crisis... 4.India Silent on Myanmar Crackdown... 5.India's foreign policy pragmatism |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Burmese American Democratic Alliance (BADA) |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 September 2010 |
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Burma's economic relations with Singapore
Individual Documents
| Title: | | Why Singapore? |
| Date of publication: | | 2007 |
| Description/subject: | | 1. U.S. Congress urges ASEAN to suspend Burma/Myanmar... 2. Singapore bans Myanmar protest at ASEAN summit.... 3. International students to attend forum to explain protest action... 4. Admin the peoples' uprising Singapore ship a weapons factory to Burma's Junta to seek economic favor... 5. Singapore PM Keep denying.....Singapore’s arms sales to Myanmar not substantial... 6. Reuters: Singapore under pressure to get tough with Myanmar... 7. Reuters: Singapore denies money laundering Myanmar leaders-AFP... 8. Asia Times: Singapore squirms as Burmese protest |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Burmese American Democratic Alliance (BADA) |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 September 2010 |
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Burma's economic relations with Thailand
Individual Documents
| Title: | | Dawei helps Thailand become auto hub |
| Date of publication: | | 01 August 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) has thrown its full support behind a rail network linking Laem Chabang with Dawei on Myanmar's eastern coast.
The TDRI says the route will support Thailand's ambition of becoming the region's automotive and logistics hub.
However, Narong Pomlaktong, the TDRI's research director of transport and logistics, said the 427-kilometre route should be extended by another 877 km to connect with Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "Bangkok Post" |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 02 August 2012 |
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| Title: | | Complaint letter to Burma government about value of agricultural land destroyed by Tavoy highway |
| Date of publication: | | 24 July 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "The complaint letter below, signed by 25 local community members, was written in July 2011 and raises villagers' concerns related to the construction of the Kanchanaburi – Tavoy [Dawei] highway linking Thailand and the Tavoy deep sea port. Villagers described concerns that the highway would bisect agricultural land and destroy crops under cultivation worth 3,280,500 kyat (US $3,657). In response to these concerns, local community members formed a group called the 'Village and Public Sustainable Development' to represent villagers' concerns and request compensation." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (96K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.khrg.org/khrg2012/khrg12b69.html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 12 August 2012 |
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| Title: | | ADB: Don't rush Dawei - Sufficient time needed to do it right |
| Date of publication: | | 22 June 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "The capital-intensive Dawei project in Myanmar needs time to ensure adequate preparation, while investment and assurance from relevant governments are also critical, says the Asian Development Bank.
The ADB, which is part of the Greater Mekong Subregion secretariat, has concluded that the GMS's Southern Economic Corridor should be extended to include Dawei on Myanmar's eastern coast, said Arjun Goswami, the bank's director of regional cooperation and operations coordination in Southeast Asia.
But he said this type of large infrastructure project requires time for good preparation and careful planning.
For example, the preparation stage for the Nam Theun 2 hydropower project in Laos lasted 10 years.
"The project needs to complete all feasibility studies including environmental and social impact assessments as well as due diligence. You should not rush into it," Mr Goswami told Euromoney's Greater Mekong Investment Forum..." |
| Author/creator: | | Nareerat Wiriyapong |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "Bangkok Post" |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 23 June 2012 |
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| Title: | | NO RIGHTS TO KNOW: The Collective Voices of Local People from the Dawei Special Economic Zone |
| Date of publication: | | April 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "...The Dawei Special Economic Zone (Dawei SEZ) will be implemented with a joint venture between Thai
companies and Burmese companies and business cronies close to the regime. Accordingly to the source from
Rangoon (Yangon), one of the regime’s closest cronies, Max Myanmar Company headed by Zaw Zaw, have
already been awarded huge contracts related to the Dawei project along with Italia-Thai company. Zaw Zaw
also accompanied with Burma’s top generals on a tour of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone
in China in 2011...The Tavoy deep seaport and special industries lie in Yebyu township and is between Tavoy town in the south and
Yatana pipeline in the north. 213.7 square meters comprises two town quarters in Yebyu Town, 11 village tracks
in Yebyu Township and one village track in eastern part of project site in Long-lon Township.
In the project site, a population of 30,000 will be directly affected, comprising of 21 communities and about 5,500
families. In order to go ahead with the project the Burmese government authorities and the companies will
move the communities out to make way for the project site. The ethnic Tavoyan people are the majority affected
population in coastal areas and many Karen communities in the eastern part of project site will be seriously
affected by the dam construction and road construction to Thailand.
However, when the Dawei Project Watch’s (DPW) field workers (reporters) traveled to the area and conducted
interviews especially with the Tavoyan and Mon villagers they found that the villagers had no idea what would
happen to them..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Dawei Project Watch |
| Format/size: | | pdf (8.9MB) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs13/N0_Rights_to_Know-Dawei-red.pdf |
| Date of entry/update: | | 05 June 2012 |
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| Title: | | Boom or Bust? |
| Date of publication: | | August 2010 |
| Description/subject: | | The Burmese junta is moving ahead with the Myawaddy special economic zone, which may or may not benefit the DKBA...
"The Burmese military regime has long talked about, but never implemented, a special economic zone (SEZ) near the Burma-Thailand border. But the junta’s cabinet recently approved the official creation of the SEZ, along with a plan to increase investment in the project.
This could result in a business boom for Col. Chit Thu and his Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) cronies who control the area surrounding the SEZ and have already established their own commercial empire on the border. But if the project is too successful, it could turn into a bust for Chit Thu, because the junta might want to keep control in the hands of its own generals..." |
| Author/creator: | | Alex Ellgee |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 18, No. 8 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 31 August 2010 |
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| Title: | | Border Industry in Myanmar: Turning the Periphery into the Center of Growth |
| Date of publication: | | October 2007 |
| Description/subject: | | ABSTRACT:
"The Myanmar economy has not been deeply integrated into East Asia's production and distribution networks, despite its location advantages and notably abundant, reasonably well-educated, cheap labor force. Underdeveloped infrastructure, logistics in particular, and an unfavorable business and investment environment hinder it from participating in such networks in East Asia. Service link costs, for connecting production sites in Myanmar and other remote fragmented production blocks or markets, have not fallen sufficiently low to enable firms, including multi-national corporations to reduce total costs, and so the Myanmar economy has failed to attract foreign direct investments.
Border industry offers a solution. The Myanmar economy can be connected to the regional and global economy through its borders with neighboring countries, Thailand in particular, which already have logistic hubs such as deep-sea ports, airports and trunk roads. This paper examines the source of competitiveness of border industry by considering an example of the garment industry located in the Myanmar-Thai border area. Based on such analysis, we recognize the prospects of border industry and propose some policy measures to promote this on Myanmar soil."
Keywords: Myanmar (Burma), Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), regional cooperation, border industry, cross-border trade, migrant workers, logistics, center-periphery
JEL classification: F15, F22, J31, L67 |
| Author/creator: | | Toshihiro Kudo |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Institute of Developing Economies (IDE Discussion Paper 122) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (1.3MB) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 22 April 2008 |
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| Title: | | Why Thailand? |
| Date of publication: | | 2007 |
| Description/subject: | | Energy for Thailand, Tragedy for Burma: Looming Humanitarian Crisis in Burma... Main Expenses of the Military Regime... Main Sources of Regime's Income
The Burma Connection... |
| Author/creator: | | Sann Aung, ANDREW HIGGINS |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Burmese American Democratic Alliance (BADA) |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 September 2010 |
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| Title: | | Straining to Bridge the Divide |
| Date of publication: | | February 2006 |
| Description/subject: | | In building a new “Friendship Bridge,” Thailand and Burma hope to consign their troubles to the past and increase cross-border trade...
"Burma’s Foreign Minister Nyan Win and his Thai counterpart, Kantathi Suphamongkhon, shook hands and smiled warmly. The January 22 opening of the second “Friendship Bridge”—connecting the Thai town of Mae Sai and, across the river in Burma, Tachilek—would help promote cross-border contact and “alleviate” the tense relationship between the two countries, they said. It should also provide a massive boost to trade relations between the traditionally wary neighbors..." |
| Author/creator: | | Clive Parker |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 14, No.2 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 01 May 2006 |
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| Title: | | The Regional Development Policy of Thailand and Its Economic Cooperation with Neighboring Countries |
| Date of publication: | | July 2005 |
| Description/subject: | | Abstract:
"Thailand has recently strengthened its economic policy toward its neighboring countries in coordination
with domestic regional development. It is widely recognized that economic cooperation with
neighboring countries is essential in preventing the inflow of illegal labor and effectively utilizing labor
and resources through the relocation of production bases. This direction is strengthened by elaborating
the GMS-EC and the ECS (Economic Cooperation Strategy). In addition, economic dependency of the
neighboring countries on Thailand is generally high. In this report, firstly, Thai regional development
policy will be made clear in relation to its economic policy toward neighboring countries as well as the
status quo of the industrial estates. Secondly, Thai policy toward the neighboring countries is examined
referring to the concept of wide-ranging economic zones, regional economic cooperation and special
border economic zones. Thirdly, the paper will discuss how closely the economies between Thailand
and the neighboring countries are related through trade and investment. Lastly, some implications on
Japan's economic cooperation will also be explored."...Keywords: industrial estates, GMS-EC, ECS, economic corridors, border zones |
| Author/creator: | | Takao TSUNEISHI |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Institute of Developing Economies, Discussion Paper No. 32 |
| Format/size: | | pdf (674K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.ide.go.jp/English/Publish/Dp/pdf/032_tsuneishi.pdf |
| Date of entry/update: | | 16 July 2006 |
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| Title: | | The Burma-Thailand Gas Debacle |
| Date of publication: | | November 2004 |
| Description/subject: | | "Thailand’s state-controlled gas firm signed up for two expensive gas deals that it later realized it didn’t want. Burma has used the revenue to finance an arms build-up.
In 1989 with the treasury bare, Burma’s ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council, or SLORC, as the junta then called itself, opened up petroleum exploration to foreign oil companies. In the short term Rangoon profited from signing bonuses paid for exploration blocks. If any of the firms struck commercially viable oil or gas, Burma would collect free rents from petroleum exports that would help maintain an unelected, unpopular administration in power..." |
| Author/creator: | | Bruce Hawke |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy", Vol. 12, No. 10 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 31 January 2005 |
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Burma's economic relations with Ukraine
Individual Documents
| Title: | | The Kiev Connection |
| Date of publication: | | April 2004 |
| Description/subject: | | "The former Soviet republic of the Ukraine is helping to satisfy the Rangoon regime’s apparently insatiable demand for modern weapon systems..."
In May 2003 the Malyshev HMB plant in Kharkov reportedly signed a contract with Rangoon to provide the Burma Army with 1,000 new BTR-3U light armored personnel carriers, or APCs. The APCs will be supplied in component form over the next 10 years, and assembled in Burma.
The size of the deal is estimated to be in excess of US $500 million. It is not known if it will be paid in hard currency, or whether an element of barter trade is involved. Some of Burma’s other arms suppliers—for example Russia and North Korea—have accepted part payment in rice, teak and marine products..." |
| Author/creator: | | William Ashton |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 12, No. 4, April 2004 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 22 July 2004 |
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